I need a few ideas for this and I'm laboring under two obstacles.
First, I was never an adolescent boy.
Second, this being the third day without running water due to a broken main, my sense of humor is stretched a little thin right now, anyway.
Any help would be appreciated.
Imagine a couple of puppies tugging on a rope toy, testing each other's strength. That's what young teens do to amuse themselves. Everything is a challenge. I can't suggest actual scenarios without knowing the socioeconomic background of your characters. Their backgrounds might affect the kind of 'trouble' they might get into.
Hope that helps!
They like to make disgusting noises with their bodies (belches, etc).
They do stupid things that could get them killed (and sometimes do).
They are particularly entertained by the expressions on the faces of adults when they do the above things.
Unfortunately for adults, doing politically incorrect things and saying politically incorrect things about other people. And doing it all on purpose.
e.g. laughing at other people's misfortunes, etc.
They think they know everything -- or at the very least, more than their parents and teachers. They frequently make all-encompassing statements about how the world works, without ever having had any experience with such. Most importantly, they do not think they are kids. They are the full equals of adults in terms of knowledge and emotional maturity.
A few tidbits, hope it helps,
W.
[This message has been edited by walexander (edited July 22, 2010).]
I don't think I have pogo sticks in this world, though. Thanks. I'm sure I'll be able to germinate a few ideas from what you've given me.
For the record:
These two are "students" of a man who purports to be able to teach them to use magic. The students are supposed to learn to control their emotions as preparation for this instruction (because untrained magic tends to escape uncontrollably with strong emotions). Actually, the "teacher" is more of a cult leader. He will kill anyone who really can do magic because he wants to be the only mage.
The older boy is a newcomer. The younger boy has been there longer than anyone and has a pretty good idea what's really going on. Whenever someone, especially someone too new to know better, starts to get emotional enough to lose control of their magic, he'll do something to make them laugh to release the tension more safely.
Backgrounds:
The older boy would come from something like a frontier farmstead, only think of it as more of a community made up of a large extended family, working together. The younger boy comes more from a frontier town/craftsman background.
BTW: The water's back on. Finally.
[This message has been edited by Meredith (edited July 22, 2010).]
quote:
They think they know everything -- or at the very least, more than their parents and teachers. They frequently make all-encompassing statements about how the world works, without ever having had any experience with such. Most importantly, they do not think they are kids. They are the full equals of adults in terms of knowledge and emotional maturity.
I've known more than one 13 year old who was in fact equal to many, many adults in these areas (in fact I was one, and not just in my own mind.) Likewise I have known at least 8,888 so called "adults" who are well below the worst teenage stereotypes in these areas.
People are people and age has a lot less to do with a lot of things than we're led to believe.
Never underestimate the power of making fun of other people to teenagers. This could work very well and add to your characterization (what do the topics children make fun of in their master say about the master?) In other words, you could have them mock his appearance, behaviors, wise sayings, etc.
What does it say about the 15 year old that he uses humor (is it sarcastic or cruel?) to keep his friends safe?
quote:
Belch or fart.
Actually the only thing I see here that I've actually done (well...some bodily things everyone does but you know what I mean) is "pretend to be a great mage."
It's natural enough that he might get in a little trouble, but no serious consequence. It distracts from something more serious, and even if done by magic for example making someone else sound like they belched or farted. It would go under the evil mage's radar.
Squeaky voice is used to imitate girls. Example: Josh cozied up next to his brother, and said in a high squeaky voice imitating Sally, "Oh, Sammy, I love you---I want to give you a big kiss!"
Cheers,
W.
quote:
Squeaky voice is used to imitate girls. Example: Josh cozied up next to his brother, and said in a high squeaky voice imitating Sally, "Oh, Sammy, I love you---I want to give you a big kiss!"
I can see that. I also thought that since the older boy's voice has already settled, and the younger boy is probably in that embarassingly unpredictable phase where his can easily slide half an octave if he gets excited, that the older boy might find that funny, whether the younger one does it intentionally or not.
-W.